Blame the back-to-back video games on the highway. Blame the 15 turnovers. Blame the eight missed free throws. All of them performed an element in Boston’s 112-102 loss in Atlanta Monday night time.
Regardless of all of the ways in which the Celtics shot themselves within the foot, there’s nonetheless an opportunity that Atlanta and Boston may meet within the first spherical of the playoffs. Joe Mazzulla goes to have to determine learn how to neutralize the Hawks’ athleticism and ball strain. In each common season losses, they had been in a position to power TOs and get scorching from 3.
The Celtics proceed to be a gradual +650 to boost Banner 19 with our buddies at FanDuel and the favourite to rep the Jap Convention within the 2026 NBA Finals.
40 minutes, 29 factors (3-9 from 3, 8-14 from the free throw line, 9-29 from the sphere), 10 rebounds, 9 assists, one steal, -5
Simply as he did towards Oklahoma Metropolis final Wednesday, JB was centered on attacking the rim and/or attending to the road. After being ejected in San Antonio, Brown has seemingly been on a mission to drive, draw extra fouls, and get to the free throw line.
And whereas I agree that he doesn’t get the identical whistle that grifters like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander get regardless of his extra bodily play, his indictment of NBA officiating appears to be getting in the way in which of his general MVP-level recreation.
Heading into Atlanta, the hometown child was averaging 11.5 free throws and three.7 turnovers per recreation. Towards the Hawks, he had 14 FTAs and 6 turnovers. Don’t be fooled by the close to triple-double; this recreation is just not happening the MVP tape.
31 minutes, 8 factors (1-4 from 3, 3-4 from the free throw line, 2-5 from the sphere), 4 rebounds, one help, one turnover, 2 steals, one block, +0
After beginning nineteen video games in November and December, Walsh went again to the bench and ultimately fell out of the rotation. Nonetheless, he’s began the final two video games and has proven why he acquired the nod earlier within the yr.
If the technique to beginning Hauser with DWhite and the Jays is that he areas the ground for the celebs, Walsh alternatively will be the first defender of the opposing workforce’s greatest participant and relieve Tatum and Brown of these duties. He dealt with these defensive duties properly, however like the remainder of his teammates, couldn’t hit his open appears.
28 minutes, 20 factors (2-3 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 8-9 from the sphere), 9 rebounds, one help, one block, +6
Beginning for Neemias Queta, Garza was a revelation as the one on a regular basis massive man out there towards the Hawks. In a phrase, he was superior. I joke within the CelticsBlog Slack that at any time when Garza enters the sport, I take into consideration that scene in Hoosiers when Norman Dale asks Strap to enter the sport. Straps says a prayer and goes on to dominate the second half.
Garza’s solely miss on the night time was a three-pointer, however in any other case, he hit every thing together with his relentless work on the offensive glass and filling the lane off pick-and-rolls and transition.
36 minutes, 7 factors (1-6 from 3, 3-12 from the sphere), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, one turnover, one steal, 2 blocks, -8
White’s droop has been properly documented since we began these gamers’ grades and tonight, he’ll once more get under common grade. After taking Sunday night time off in Charlotte, White couldn’t get right into a groove. He’s nonetheless filling the field rating, notably on the defensive facet of the ball, however he’ll want to start out hitting some pictures if Boston expects to do something within the playoffs.
26 minutes, 3 factors (1-4 from 3, 1-4 from the sphere), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, one turnover, one steal, -3
Scheierman was thrown a few grenades that he needed to chuck on the rim, however for probably the most half, he was a stable contributor on protection and a ball mover on offense.
25 minutes, 16 factors (4-6 from 3, 6-14 from the sphere), 2 rebounds, one turnover, -19
On the second night time of a back-to-back, Pritchard didn’t have his raise on his mid-range jumper. Mix that with Atlanta’s sturdy perimeter defenders and PP was simply 2-8 contained in the arc. A few these pictures ought to have resulted in free throws although.
21 minutes, 7 factors (1-3 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line, 2-5 from the sphere), 3 rebounds, one turnover, -3
After beginning the sport on the bench, Hauser began within the second half for Baylor Scheierman. Earlier within the recreation, he was just a little aggressive off the dribble, so perhaps Mazzulla noticed one thing and needed that scoring punch. That didn’t precisely materialize and Scheierman acquired the majority of these shooter minutes as an alternative.
13 minutes, 5 factors (1-2 from 3, 2-4 from the sphere), 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers, -4
The rookie had a recreation full of rookie errors. Within the first quarter, he missed a defensive swap that led to a fast Mazzulla timeout, turned the ball over twice on a dribble hand off and a drive-and-kick, and didn’t keep linked on a drive. After halftime, his second half stint was nearer to what we’re accustomed with and a nook three helped stem the tide late within the third.
13 minutes, 4 factors (2-2 from the free throw line, 1-2 from the sphere), 7 rebounds, one help, one tunover, one steal, one block, -8
With Queta and Nikola Vucevic out, the rookie was referred to as upon to be the seccond unit middle. Within the G League, Williams averaged 18 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and a pair of blocks in half-hour an evening. Ron Harper Jr. grabs the headlines together with his excellent play as a two-way call-up, however the forty sixth choose within the 2025 NBA Draft has been a monster in Maine.
We noticed a few of that on Monday night time. He’s stable in his 6’11 body and is lowkey one of many Celtics’ greatest prospects transferring ahead.
6 minutes, 3 factors (1-2 from the free throw line, 1-1 from the sphere), 2 rebounds, one turnover, 2 blocks, -6
Bassey is again with Boston on a second consecutive 1o-day contract and we noticed some flashes of what made him such an intriguing prospect in Summer season League. The Celtics in the end didn’t signal him and he’s had cups of espresso in Memphis and Philadelphia this season.
He had back-to-back blocks within the 2nd and together with his deal ending on Friday, these may very well be the spotlight of his profession in Boston.
Inactives: Neemias Queta, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Vucevic
